As KidsAbility Foundation enters a new chapter, Paige Phillips is stepping into one of it’s most important leadership roles during a particularly challenging moment for the organization and the wider community.
Phillips was recently appointed executive director of KidsAbility Foundation following a period marked by significant staffing reductions, growing public scrutiny, and questions surrounding the future of services for children and youth with disabilities across the Waterloo region, Guelph, and Wellington County.
Yet Phillips’ appointment also represents continuity.
She began her career at KidsAbility Foundation as a senior development officer and worked in multiple roles throughout the organization over the years. In an exclusive interview with CharityAxess, Phillips reflected on her journey from packing envelopes early in her career to now leading the foundation as executive director.
Having grown within the organization, Phillips brings years of institutional knowledge, community relationships, and firsthand understanding of the families KidsAbility serves.
“KidsAbility has a long history in this region. It is well known and well respected,” Phillips said. “As the executive director of KidsAbility Foundation, I believe it is my job to ensure that we maintain that reputation but also strengthen the relationships we have in this community.”
Phillips said she plans to do this in part by remaining visible and engaged in the community.
Originally founded in 1957 as the K-W Rotary Children’s Centre, KidsAbility began through the efforts of local Rotarians seeking better developmental support services for children in the region.
Over the decades, the organization evolved into one of Ontario’s most recognized child development centres, supporting more than 17,000 children and youth with disabilities and developmental delays.
The organization has long been viewed as an important pillar in the charitable sector and the Kitchener–Waterloo community. That reputation is part of why the recent layoffs have generated so much public concern.
In March 2026, KidsAbility announced it would lay off 21 workers, following another 37 layoffs in October 2025. More than 50 employees were let go within months. The organization also closed its Fergus location.
According to publicly available records, KidsAbility receives approximately $25 million annually from the provincial government. Given the scale of public funding involved, the layoffs quickly became a topic of discussion among families, workers, elected officials, and community members.
According to CBC News, KidsAbility stated that significant effort went into making the difficult decision and maintained that service delivery would not be affected. However, many families and frontline workers remain concerned about how staffing reductions could impact wait times, workloads, continuity of care, and overall service quality moving forward.
Two local members of provincial Parliament publicly raised concerns following complaints from families regarding reduced service levels after the layoffs. Catherine Fife called for an audit of the organization, while Aislinn Clancy also voiced concerns regarding the situation.
Still, the broader issue may extend beyond a traditional financial audit.
Most registered charities already undergo annual financial reviews and reporting obligations. In the most recent audit publicly available online, conducted by BDO Canada LLP, KidsAbility received a clean audit opinion.
A financial audit can confirm whether spending was properly documented and compliant with accounting standards. What it may not fully answer is whether operational decisions, staffing models, budgeting assumptions, and long-term sustainability planning were aligned with growing community needs.
That is why an independent operational review or strategic analysis may provide more value than financial oversight alone. Questions surrounding service demand forecasting, administrative costs, workforce sustainability, procurement practices, and organizational planning may all deserve closer examination.
The situation has also reignited conversations about nonprofit governance and accountability of publicly funded organizations delivering essential services. For Kidsability Foundation, this public scrutiny directly impacts donor relations, making the task of maintaining philanthropic support more critical than ever
Simultaneously, many in the community continue to recognize KidsAbility’s long-standing impact on families across the region. For parents navigating developmental challenges, organizations like KidsAbility often become deeply important parts of a child’s growth, confidence, and long-term well-being.
Phillips acknowledged that her new role requires balancing the needs of multiple stakeholders across the organization and the wider community.
“I think now as executive director, the difference between my previous roles where I was a fundraiser and I had to consider the donor community and our partners as well, now I have to think about all of our stakeholders,” she said.
She added that every major decision must “balance organizational health, sustainability, finance, and culture” while also considering donors, volunteers, staff, board members, and the Centre for Child Development.
As Phillips steps into her new role, she now faces the responsibility of helping guide the organization through rebuilding and renewed public attention.
Given her long history with the organization, many would argue she is uniquely positioned to help lead KidsAbility into its next phase.
For an organization whose motto is “a future of possibilities,” that message is also reflected in Phillips’ upward career trajectory at KidsAbility, from development officer to executive director.
Many community members hope that under this new leadership, the organization’s future of possibilities continues to include thoughtful oversight and compassionate support for the children and families who rely on KidsAbility every day.
To learn more about the organizations supporting disability services across Canada and the impact they make, you can explore related charities here.
Written by: Kamarah Curling, MBA, Founder and Managing Editor
Edited by: Katherine Morton, MBA, BA
Photo Credit: Kidsability Foundation
